Yinshuang stayed behind with Ziyu to look for the jade hairpin, while Chenwan randomly pointed to one of the second-class maids to accompany her to Qinghui Courtyard to pay her respects.
Shen Wan arrived late. When she arrived, Shen Ying and the others were already there, chatting and laughing around the old lady, enjoying themselves immensely.
As Shen Wan walked in, Shen Ying said, "Why are you so late today, elder sister? We've been talking with Grandmother for quite a while."
Shen Wan wore her displeasure on her face.
Upon seeing this, the old lady said, "Why do you look so pale? Who has offended you?"
Shen Wan said sullenly, "Nobody provoked me, it's just that I can't find my things."
The second wife asked, "What's missing that's making you so angry?"
Shen Wan said, "The jade hairpin that Prince Ling gave me yesterday, I couldn't find it when I wanted to wear it just now. I searched for a long time and it delayed my time to pay my respects to my grandmother."
Seeing that Shen Wan was anxious, Fourth Madam comforted her, saying, "As long as it's in the manor, it definitely won't get lost, and we'll find it eventually."
Shen Wan nodded slightly, curtsied to the old lady, and then sat down to listen to the second and third wives discussing the matter of holding a birthday banquet for the old lady.
The old lady's birthday is in a month, so we need to start preparing in advance.
After Shen Wan's mother, Yun, passed away, Shen Jing had no intention of remarrying. There were only two concubines in the inner quarters, neither of whom had children. Shen Wan rarely saw them. Since the eldest branch of the family had no mistress, the management of the household affairs was handed over to the second wife. The second wife was also responsible for welcoming and seeing off guests.
Shen Wan listened quietly to their discussion, which came down to purchasing camel hump. The third wife said, "Camel hump is hard to buy, especially so much at once. It seems we can only ask the Yun family for help..."
Before she could finish speaking, Yinshuang rushed in and said, "Miss, the jade hairpin has been found."
The jade lotus hairpin she was holding was the very one.
Shen Wan eagerly took it, "Luckily it wasn't lost."
Shen Ying then asked, "Where did you find it?"
Yinshuang hesitated, as if she wanted to say something but then stopped.
The second wife coldly retorted, "Don't you even know where you found the jade hairpin?!"
When her daughter asked her a question, even a maid dared not answer.
The second wife's sharp voice startled Yinshuang, who stammered, "Yes, it was found under the pillow in Mama Wu's room..."
Shen Wan blurted out, "How did my jade hairpin end up under Mama Wu's pillow?"
Could a young woman be any more foolish?
It must have been stolen by Wu's mother.
The maids and servants secretly grumbled to themselves.
Yinshuang replied, "I put the jade hairpin in the box myself, but I couldn't find it anywhere. Ziyu suspected that someone had stolen it, so she had everyone who had entered the young lady's room yesterday searched it. Then she found the jade hairpin in Wu Mama's room..."
Yinshuang didn't know why her young lady suddenly wanted to scheme against Mama Wu, but Mama Wu often bullied the maids in the courtyard and deducted their monthly wages. Not only Yinshuang, but even Ziyu, who was closest to Mama Wu, disliked her. However, Mama Wu was given to the young lady by the old lady, so everyone dared not speak out against her.
It would be best if we could get rid of Aunt Wu.
The second wife said, "Wu Mama was given to the eldest daughter by the old lady. She shouldn't be such a dishonest person. Could there be some misunderstanding?"
If the person the old lady appointed does something shameful, it's also the old lady who loses face. This means she needs to consider the old lady's reputation and suppress the matter.
Shen Wan obediently replied, "Perhaps I was careless and left the jade hairpin somewhere. Let Wu Mama pick it up."
They took a step back, but it was almost the same as not taking a step back at all.
Such a jade hairpin is clearly not something an ordinary person could possess. If you find it, you should hand it over instead of keeping it.
The second wife looked at the old lady, who angrily said, "Where is Wu Mama? Bring her here!"
Yinshuang replied, "Mother Wu left the manor early this morning and hasn't returned yet."
Shen Wan then said, "Send someone to wait at the side gate. As soon as Mama Wu returns, bring her here to Grandmother."
After waiting for another quarter of an hour, Wu Mama came into the room and immediately said to Chen Wan, "That jade hairpin was clearly a gift from Miss to me! How can Miss accuse me of stealing it?!"
Shen Wan looked at her, "When did I bestow this upon you?"
After giving the exact time, Madam Wu said, "Yin Shuang can be my witness!"
Yinshuang said, "What nonsense are you talking about, Mama Wu? That jade hairpin was a coming-of-age gift from Prince Ling to the young lady. How could the young lady possibly give the jade hairpin to you?"
Mrs. Wu was furious. This little slut had always been secretly going against her, and today she was lying through her teeth.
Madam Wu scolded Yinshuang, who felt extremely wronged. Shen Wan, on the other hand, said angrily, "Then Madam Wu, tell me, what did you do yesterday that made me so happy that I gave you the jade hairpin?"
When Wu's mother thought about how she had coaxed her eldest daughter to give the pearl to her second daughter yesterday, her face turned pale.
It's possible that she sided with outsiders and angered the eldest young lady, which is why the eldest young lady used the jade hairpin to plot against her and get rid of this traitor.
Unfortunately, there were only the three of them in the room at the time, and there was no one to testify on her behalf.
She was caught off guard and fell into the young lady's trap. But she had done similar things before, so why did she upset the young lady yesterday?
Mrs. Wu couldn't understand it.
Shen Wan said, "You are the person my grandmother gave me. I have always trusted you and never mistreated you in the slightest. I can turn a blind eye to you taking other things, and I might not even notice. But you dared to take the coming-of-age gift that Prince Ling gave me."
The old lady knew how much Shen Wan trusted Wu Mama, and how Wu Mama had deceived Shen Wan. Not only did the old lady know, but those around her also knew.
Therefore, no one suspected that Shen Wan was plotting against Wu's mother.
The old lady's face darkened, and she slammed her fist on the table, shouting, "You worthless wretch! You stole from your master and dared to lie! Drag him away and have him beaten to death!"
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